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Location

East Lansing, MI | United States

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Job description

Working/Functional Title

Benefits Specialist

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Director in the Office of Benefits, this position will provide professional administration of the university’s benefit plans. The incumbent will administer the student health insurance program for graduate assistants, medical students, international students, and other student groups, as well as develop and implement initiatives related to student and graduate assistant insurance. Additionally, they will support the staff, faculty, and retiree health insurance programs.

Human Resources has a firm commitment to serving the university with thoughtfulness and professionalism. The person in this position will support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in every aspect and responsibility associated with the job.

What you’ll be doing:

• Troubleshoot vendor-related issues pertaining to benefits enrollment portal access, health insurance coverage and student health insurance waivers; includes identifying patterns which may indicate a system or larger issue.
• Resolve complex problems related to vendors, files, or systems; move escalated insurance inquiries through internal and external research, working with vendors to provide a solution and communicating with those impacted.
• Partner with benefit vendors and various constituents across campus to ensure students, staff, faculty, and retirees receive access to health insurance coverage needed.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations including Section 125 plan document, COBRA, and ACA. Partner with Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) to ensure international students receive health insurance that meets VISA requirements.
• Participate in campus partnerships to highlight and educate students, staff, faculty, and retirees on health insurance options such as Staff/Faculty Open Enrollment, JHCC (Joint Health Care Coalition), SIAG (Student Insurance Advisory Group), Student Fairs, Student Health and Wellness at Olin Health Center, etc.

You will thrive in this role if you have:

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations specific to benefit programs and services; demonstrated ability to stay current with changing laws and regulations and aptitude for continuous learning.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to use data to make recommendations and decisions.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships within and outside of the organization.
• Highly effective communication skills to convey technical and complex benefit program information in a clear and concise manner to all levels of the organization.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, establish priorities, goals, and objectives, and deliver quality results within deadlines.
• Experience using standard computing tools including Microsoft Office applications, on-line databases, and web-based research tools with the ability to learn new systems and computing tools.
• Contributes to a positive work environment where all team members are treated with dignity and respect; contributes to a work environment that allows team members to be creative, productive, and valued for their unique ideas, perspectives, and experiences.

Remote Work Capability: This position is based in East Lansing, MI on the campus of Michigan State University.  Human Resources embraces flexible work options, and this position allows for a hybrid schedule (if desired), with regular onsite work required. All schedule adjustments are assessed for impact to the work outcomes of the individual, team, and department – and must be pre-approved by the supervisor.

Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Human Resources Administration or a related field; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in human resources administration, data and/or statistical analysis, and/or program development and implementation in a Human Resource area related to the area of benefits; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

We are seeking an adaptable, deadline-oriented, and self-motivated professional with experience within human resources and/or University settings. The ideal candidate would have demonstrated written and verbal communications skills, exceptional organizational skills; a strong customer service orientation; experience using SAP/EBS/Campus Solutions; possess a strong work ethic; be collaborative, have proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn quickly.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume

Cover Letter

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Website

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding Eligibility ends 03/12/2024 at 11:55 PM

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

Connections working at Michigan State University

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